In the past several weeks, we docents at the Terra Museum have joined the public in reading the numerous articles about the Terra Foundation’s Board and their disagreements about the permanent location of the Terra Museum in Chicago.
We would like to focus our reaction to this disagreement on what we feel is our mission at the Terra: teaching and learning about American art.
Since its opening in Evanston in 1980 and continuing through the move to Chicago’s Michigan Avenue in 1987, the Terra has provided Chicago with an ever-expanding array of learning opportunities.
Last year approximately 10,000 elementary and high school students from Chicago and the suburbs participated in docent-led tours, and 6,400 students attended staff-led, hands-on workshops.
The Terra Museum has collaborations with 22 Chicago public schools and 10 schools from the archdiocese.
The Terra also offers monthly programs, including the Cameo Collection (a catered luncheon with an art historian lecturing on a featured piece from the permanent collection) and American Friday nights (a music and appetizer gathering focused on the current exhibit).
There also are family programs (an interactive guided tour and hands-on workshop) and Insights: The Terra Evening Lecture Series.
In addition, the Terra offers adult studio art classes and other lectures, gallery talks and exhibition openings on a regular basis.
Last year 1,800 people joined us for public tours, 2,550 people attended the public programs and 565 teachers participated in teacher workshops, credit courses and educator events at the Terra.
Our director, Dr. John Hallmark Neff, continues to inspire us with his enthusiasm and knowledge of American art.
This past year, he inaugurated a symposium series that brings Terra staff and docents together with Chicago’s teachers and administrators to discuss American art issues.
These symposiums are led by nationally prominent art educators and are themed to our exhibitions.
We are very proud of our “little jewel of a museum,” at 664 N. Michigan Ave.
We appreciate the value of our collection but believe that the museum’s real worth is in the education it provides to Chicago’s public and to Chicago’s students.
The staff and director are well-trained and dedicated to teaching us to teach others through our excellent permanent collection and our visiting exhibitions.
That is what makes a difference in Chicago.
Please join us in urging the board to keep our museum here in Chicago where it belongs.
